Geomatics News

We have provided this Geomatics News section to allow our members and corporate sponsors the ability to share any geomatics related news or information with the geospatial community. This page works much like a typical blog, so others can add comments to any news post, or include the information on their own website using the RSS feed.

To expand the content, simply click on the article title, click the blue arrow located after the title or click the Read more link.

To add geomatics related content simply click the 'add post' button below and enter your details in the appropriate boxes that appear. [Note: you must be logged-in to your GANS member account to post information below, so if you do not see a button then you may not be logged-in].

Over the years it has been recognized that there is a need for the Canadian Geomatics Sector to evolve beyond the focus of capturing data and delivering basic products, and to start being recognized for expertise in helping a geospatial community make more effective use of geospatial data and related applications.

If you answered yes to any of those questions then GANS encourages you to please consider helping us with a new project that we are about to launch, that aims to promote both high school geography and our industry, ultimately resulting in more students pursuing geo-spatial studies and careers after they leave high school.

OCEANS-NSin partnership with the International Ocean Institute - Canada (IOI-Canada), Department of Labour and Advanced Education (LAE), Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism (ERDT), Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD), and the Ocean Technology Council of Nova Scotia (OTCNS) are conducting a project on ocean and coastal related careers and associated post-secondary pathways that are available in Nova Scotia.

A specific focus of their project is with informing youth (ages 15-30) about career opportunities in the oceans sector and they are interested in peoples views on best practices in attracting, retaining and training/building capacity in the oceans sector.

They are conducting an online survey (available until midnight on March 1st) and are hoping thatthe Nova Scotia Geomatics communitycould help them out by either participating in the survey or forwarding this message along to others in their target audience that could.

The Municipality of Kings is one of the fastest growing regions in Nova Scotia. It has a unique blend of urban and rural communities and offers a wonderful quality of life to its residents. Planning Services requires an experienced GIS (Planning) Technician to provide GIS and related technical support to its service area and the Municipality.

Economic and Rural Development and Tourism

NOTE: A list of participating post-secondary institutions follows this release.

Government is accepting applications from small businesses for the Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program.

The program helps small businesses develop a new product or service, and get it closer to market, by giving them access to advice and support from experts at universities and colleges in Nova Scotia.

"The provincial voucher program inspires joint efforts between industry and their post-secondary partners," said Wayne St-Amour, Nova Scotia Community College's executive director of innovation and entrepreneurship and dean of applied research. "The program enables us to support projects in the community with our collective expertise in innovative and problem-solving technologies.

"We get to play a part in helping businesses take an idea off the ground and launch it into a commercial application."

More than 240 businesses have received vouchers since the program started in 2008, including 51 last year.

One of the businesses that received a voucher last year is Scotia Weather Services Inc. of Dartmouth.

"We're constantly looking for new methods and technology to enhance how we present weather information to our clients," said Malcolm MacLeod, president of Scotia Weather Services. "The voucher allowed us to have a person at NSCC with extensive experience in geographic information systems evaluate the capability of a software package to develop new products for our clients to use in making weather-sensitive decisions.

"We determined this software can help us enhance our products. This work will help us build on our weather service business."

The program offers two types of vouchers.

The tier-one vouchers provide up to $15,000 for expert services and advice in areas such as applied research, field testing, prototyping, engineering services, product design and feasibility studies.

The tier-two vouchers offer up to $25,000 to businesses that have received vouchers in the past, allowing them to build on the work they did with the first project.

"Finding ways to connect small businesses with the wealth of expertise available at our universities and colleges will help make them more competitive and profitable," said Michel Samson, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. "Through this program, small businesses are able to get advice and support from experts so they can move their innovative ideas forward."

To be eligible, businesses must be registered to operate in Nova Scotia and have less than 100 employees when they apply. Businesses can get more information and application forms at www.gov.ns.ca/econ/pnivouchers .

Applications for first-tier vouchers are due by Oct. 10. The deadline for the second-tier is Oct. 17.

The participating universities and colleges are:
-- Acadia University
-- Cape Breton University
-- Dalhousie University, including the former Nova Scotia Agricultural College
-- Mount Saint Vincent University
-- Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
-- Nova Scotia Community College
-- Saint Mary's University
-- St. Francis Xavier University
-- Université Sainte-Anne

GANS Corporate Sponsor - the Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) was featured on CBC's Information Morning program today, from Sable Island! Listen in while David Colville talks "island mapping" with Don Connolly.

This year’s AGM was held in Halifax at the Nova Scotia Art Gallery and included a presentation about business development & an interactive workshop dealing with the CGCRT Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy. We also realize that not everyone was able to attend so we have included a summary of the event.

Eric Melanson summarized the year’s events and accomplishments of the Association, highlighted several key points that GANS intends to focus on during the upcoming year, and also extended many thanks to all the great volunteers that help run the Association. Maureen Hudson provided everyone with a summary on the Association’s finances during the past year.

Five GANS Directors have fulfilled their two year tenures providing several opportunities to join the GANS Board of Directors. John Trites, Dennis Kingston (COGS - NSCC), Hugh MacKay (Novellus Management Consultancy), Tim Dine (SEG Consulting), Charlie Walls (Dalhousie University) were all unanimously approved as new members of the GANS Board of Directors. Eric Melanson (Esri Canada) was re-elected as GANS President and Ted MacKinnon (Natural Resources Canada) was elected as Vice President.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) works to create opportunities for economic growth in Atlantic Canada by helping businesses become more competitive, innovative and productive, by working to help develop and diversify local economies, and championing the strengths of Atlantic Canada.

Connor Smithers-Mapp from ACOA provided an overview on the Business Development Program and how ACOA is further strengthening Nova Scotia’s economy helping the private sector through collaboration and interest free unsecured loans.

Dave Keefe (GANS Executive Director) will be following up with Connor again in the near future to see how ACOA and GANS can work together to further help out the Geomatics Industry in Nova Scotia.

Next week in Ottawa the Canadian Geomatics Community Round Table (CGCRT); an open and collaborative group, made up of representatives from industry, academia, professional associations, NGOs and governments are organizing a national strategy, action and implementation planning workshop aimed to help them meet their goals of: reaching community consensus on a Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy; engaging the community in action planning; and strengthening the Canadian geomatics sector.

The CGCRT invited people to come to Ottawa to participate in the event, GANS will be well represented by James Boxall, Fred Hutchinson (also representing the Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors) and Ted MacKinnon.

Therefore to coincide with this CGCRT National event, GANS invited James Boxall, Co-Chair of the CGCRT to facilitate an interactive workshop at the AGM to ensure that the Nova Scotia geomatics community was well represented and included in the Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy. James provided a brief overview of the seven main components of the strategy that he represented in his honey-comb diagram. Then members split up into several working groups (one for each aspect of the strategy) to discuss ideas and suggestions to help formulate strategies.

This workshop was similar to the one that James facilitated at the 2013 AGM where each group presented quick overviews of what they discussed and proposed. James gathered notes and information from each group and will be compiling them into a report that will be presented to the CGCRT steering committee in Ottawa on behalf of GANS. Those who were not able to participate can still have their input included, simply contact James, Fred, or Ted or contact the CGCRT through their web site.

On behalf of GANS, we would also like to extend thanks the event working group for putting on another great event and we look forward to your participation at upcoming GANS activities.

More photos of the event are available on the GANS FaceBook page and the presentations and documents from the 2014 AGM, ACOA presentation & CGCRT Workshop will be made available in the GANS members section.

Thanks to everyone who attended this year’s GANS Annual General Meeting (AGM). It can be a pretty busy time of year for many and we appreciate your continued support of GANS events. We also realize that not everyone was able to attend so we have included a summary below (also available on the GANS website – LINK?). This year’s event was held in downtown Halifax at the Nova Scotia Art Gallery and included a presentation about business development and an interactive workshop dealing with the Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy.

GANS President, Eric Melanson summarized the year’s events and accomplishments of the Association, highlighted several key points that GANS intends to focus on during the upcoming year, and also extended many thanks to all the great volunteers that help run the Association. [A copy of his presentation is available in the members section on the GANS web site – LINK?]. GANS Treasurer, Maureen Hudson provided a summary on the Association’s finances during the past year. [A copy is available in the members section on the GANS web site – LINK?].

Several (five) GANS Directors have fulfilled their two year tenures providing several opportunities to join the GANS Board of Directors. John Trites), Dennis Kingston (COGS - NSCC), Hugh MacKay (Novellus Management Consultancy), Tim Dine (SEG Consulting), Charlie Walls (Dalhousie University) were all unanimously approved as new members of the GANS Board of Directors. Eric Melanson (Esri Canada) was re-elected as GANS President, Ted MacKinnon (Natural Resources Canada) was elected as Vice President

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) works to create opportunities for economic growth in Atlantic Canada by helping businesses become more competitive, innovative and productive, by working to help develop and diversify local economies, and championing the strengths of Atlantic Canada. Connor Smithers-Mapp from ACOA provided an overview on the Business Development Program and how ACOA is further strengthening Nova Scotia’s economy helping the private sector through collaboration and interest free unsecured loans. Dave Keefe (GANS Executive Director) will be following up with Connor again in the near future to see how ACOA and GANS can work together to further help out the Geomatics Industry in Nova Scotia. [include photo of Connor & Dave K]

Next week in Ottawa the Canadian Geomatics Community Round Table (CGCRT); an open and collaborative group, made up of representatives from industry, academia, professional

associations, NGOs and governments are organizing a national strategy, action and implementation planning workshop aimed to help them meet their goals of: reaching community consensus on a Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy; engaging the community in action planning; and strengthening the Canadian geomatics sector. The CGCRT invited people to come to Ottawa to participate in the event, GANS will be well represented by James Boxall, Fred Hutchinson (also representing the Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors) and Ted MacKinnon.

Therefore to coincide with this CGCRT National event, GANS invited James Boxall, Co-Chair of the CGCRT to facilitate an interactive workshop at the AGM to ensure that the Nova Scotia geomatics community was well represented and included in the Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy. James provided a brief overview of the seven main components of the strategy that he represented in his honey-comb diagram. [include image]. Then members split up into several working groups (one for each aspect of the strategy) to discuss ideas and suggestions to help formulate strategies. This workshop was similar to the one that James facilitated at the 2013 AGM where each group presented quick overviews of what they discussed and proposed [include photo of James writing on white board]. James gathered notes and information from each group and will be compiling them into a report that will be presented to the CGCRT steering committee in Ottawa on behalf of GANS.[A copy of this will be made available in the members section on the GANS web site]. [also add photo of white board] Those who were not able to participate can still have their input included, simply contact James, Fred, or Ted or contact the CGCRT through their website.

On behalf of GANS, we would also like to extend thanks the event working group for putting on another great event and we look forward to your participation at upcoming GANS activities.

Thanks to everyone who attended this year’s GANS Annual General Meeting (AGM). It can be a pretty busy time of year for many and we appreciate your continued support of GANS events. We also realize that not everyone was able to attend so we have included a summary below (also available on the GANS website – LINK?). This year’s event was held in downtown Halifax at the Nova Scotia Art Gallery and included a presentation about business development and an interactive workshop dealing with the Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy.

GANS President, Eric Melanson summarized the year’s events and accomplishments of the Association, highlighted several key points that GANS intends to focus on during the upcoming year, and also extended many thanks to all the great volunteers that help run the Association. [A copy of his presentation is available in the members section on the GANS web site – LINK?]. GANS Treasurer, Maureen Hudson provided a summary on the Association’s finances during the past year. [A copy is available in the members section on the GANS web site – LINK?].

Several (five) GANS Directors have fulfilled their two year tenures providing several opportunities to join the GANS Board of Directors. John Trites), Dennis Kingston (COGS - NSCC), Hugh MacKay (Novellus Management Consultancy), Tim Dine (SEG Consulting), Charlie Walls (Dalhousie University) were all unanimously approved as new members of the GANS Board of Directors. Eric Melanson (Esri Canada) was re-elected as GANS President, Ted MacKinnon (Natural Resources Canada) was elected as Vice President

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) works to create opportunities for economic growth in Atlantic Canada by helping businesses become more competitive, innovative and productive, by working to help develop and diversify local economies, and championing the strengths of Atlantic Canada. Connor Smithers-Mapp from ACOA provided an overview on the Business Development Program and how ACOA is further strengthening Nova Scotia’s economy helping the private sector through collaboration and interest free unsecured loans. Dave Keefe (GANS Executive Director) will be following up with Connor again in the near future to see how ACOA and GANS can work together to further help out the Geomatics Industry in Nova Scotia. [include photo of Connor & Dave K]

Next week in Ottawa the Canadian Geomatics Community Round Table (CGCRT); an open and collaborative group, made up of representatives from industry, academia, professional

associations, NGOs and governments are organizing a national strategy, action and implementation planning workshop aimed to help them meet their goals of: reaching community consensus on a Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy; engaging the community in action planning; and strengthening the Canadian geomatics sector. The CGCRT invited people to come to Ottawa to participate in the event, GANS will be well represented by James Boxall, Fred Hutchinson (also representing the Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors) and Ted MacKinnon.

Therefore to coincide with this CGCRT National event, GANS invited James Boxall, Co-Chair of the CGCRT to facilitate an interactive workshop at the AGM to ensure that the Nova Scotia geomatics community was well represented and included in the Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy. James provided a brief overview of the seven main components of the strategy that he represented in his honey-comb diagram. [include image]. Then members split up into several working groups (one for each aspect of the strategy) to discuss ideas and suggestions to help formulate strategies. This workshop was similar to the one that James facilitated at the 2013 AGM where each group presented quick overviews of what they discussed and proposed [include photo of James writing on white board]. James gathered notes and information from each group and will be compiling them into a report that will be presented to the CGCRT steering committee in Ottawa on behalf of GANS.[A copy of this will be made available in the members section on the GANS web site]. [also add photo of white board] Those who were not able to participate can still have their input included, simply contact James, Fred, or Ted or contact the CGCRT through their website.

On behalf of GANS, we would also like to extend thanks the event working group for putting on another great event and we look forward to your participation at upcoming GANS activities.

Thanks to everyone who attended this year’s GANS Annual General Meeting (AGM). It can be a pretty busy time of year for many and we appreciate your continued support of GANS events. We also realize that not everyone was able to attend so we have included a summary below (also available on the GANS website – LINK?). This year’s event was held in downtown Halifax at the Nova Scotia Art Gallery and included a presentation about business development and an interactive workshop dealing with the Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy.

GANS President, Eric Melanson summarized the year’s events and accomplishments of the Association, highlighted several key points that GANS intends to focus on during the upcoming year, and also extended many thanks to all the great volunteers that help run the Association. [A copy of his presentation is available in the members section on the GANS web site – LINK?]. GANS Treasurer, Maureen Hudson provided a summary on the Association’s finances during the past year. [A copy is available in the members section on the GANS web site – LINK?].

Several (five) GANS Directors have fulfilled their two year tenures providing several opportunities to join the GANS Board of Directors. John Trites), Dennis Kingston (COGS - NSCC), Hugh MacKay (Novellus Management Consultancy), Tim Dine (SEG Consulting), Charlie Walls (Dalhousie University) were all unanimously approved as new members of the GANS Board of Directors. Eric Melanson (Esri Canada) was re-elected as GANS President, Ted MacKinnon (Natural Resources Canada) was elected as Vice President

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) works to create opportunities for economic growth in Atlantic Canada by helping businesses become more competitive, innovative and productive, by working to help develop and diversify local economies, and championing the strengths of Atlantic Canada. Connor Smithers-Mapp from ACOA provided an overview on the Business Development Program and how ACOA is further strengthening Nova Scotia’s economy helping the private sector through collaboration and interest free unsecured loans. Dave Keefe (GANS Executive Director) will be following up with Connor again in the near future to see how ACOA and GANS can work together to further help out the Geomatics Industry in Nova Scotia. [include photo of Connor & Dave K]

Next week in Ottawa the Canadian Geomatics Community Round Table (CGCRT); an open and collaborative group, made up of representatives from industry, academia, professional

associations, NGOs and governments are organizing a national strategy, action and implementation planning workshop aimed to help them meet their goals of: reaching community consensus on a Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy; engaging the community in action planning; and strengthening the Canadian geomatics sector. The CGCRT invited people to come to Ottawa to participate in the event, GANS will be well represented by James Boxall, Fred Hutchinson (also representing the Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors) and Ted MacKinnon.

Therefore to coincide with this CGCRT National event, GANS invited James Boxall, Co-Chair of the CGCRT to facilitate an interactive workshop at the AGM to ensure that the Nova Scotia geomatics community was well represented and included in the Pan-Canadian Geomatics Strategy. James provided a brief overview of the seven main components of the strategy that he represented in his honey-comb diagram. [include image]. Then members split up into several working groups (one for each aspect of the strategy) to discuss ideas and suggestions to help formulate strategies. This workshop was similar to the one that James facilitated at the 2013 AGM where each group presented quick overviews of what they discussed and proposed [include photo of James writing on white board]. James gathered notes and information from each group and will be compiling them into a report that will be presented to the CGCRT steering committee in Ottawa on behalf of GANS.[A copy of this will be made available in the members section on the GANS web site]. [also add photo of white board] Those who were not able to participate can still have their input included, simply contact James, Fred, or Ted or contact the CGCRT through their website.

On behalf of GANS, we would also like to extend thanks the event working group for putting on another great event and we look forward to your participation at upcoming GANS activities.

COINAtlantic (Coastal and Ocean Information Network) are hosting two workshops next week. They have provided the following descriptions and are encouraging GANS members to attend. Please direct all inquiries to Andrew Sherin (contact information below).

Wednesday May 21, 2014

A COINAtlantic Webinar on “Catalog Service on the Web (CSW), Semantics and Ontologies” will be held on the 21st of May 2014, from 1300-1700 ADT. Dr. Yassine Lassoued, University College Cork, Ireland, Dr. Jean Brodeur, Natural Resources Canada, Dr. Arnaud Vandecasteele, Memorial University, and Mr. Jeff McKenna, Gateway Geomatics will lead a Webinar on the Open Geospatial Consortium’s standard Catalog Service on the Web and the development and use of semantic engines and ontologies to support multiple catalog queries. This workshop will be of interest to developers of metadata catalogs and catalog search applications. To register for this Webinar, send an email to Andrew Sherin, Director ACZISC Secretariat at [email protected] with the subject heading CSW webinar.

Thursday May 22, 2014

A COINAtlantic workshop on “Smart Atlas” lead by Dr. Yassine Lassoued, University College Cork, Ireland will be held on the 22nd of May 2014, from 0830-1200 ADT, in Halifax, NS. Smart Atlas is a web atlas (GIS) engine that builds on the Marine Irish Digital Atlas (MIDA, http://mida.ucc.ie) software, using up-to-date open technologies. Smart Atlas has been used to deliver the African Marine Atlas (http://www.odinafrica.org). To register for this workshop, send an email to Andrew Sherin, Director ACZISC Secretariat at [email protected] with the subject heading Smart Atlas. This is a face to face workshop to be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia not a Webinar.

Dr. Yassine Lassoued

GIS Research and Development

Coastal Marine Research Centre

University College Cork, Ireland

Yassine Lassoued joined CMRC in February 2006, and has been working as a Computer Science (CS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) researcher and developer ever since. As part of this position, he has actively participated in, and led, the design and development of marine-related integrated databases and information systems. His research interests are: data integration, interoperability of distributed information systems, semantic web, and ontologies.

Yassine has acted as principal investigator and led work packages in several nationally and EU funded projects. He has extensive background in the semantic interoperability of information systems and in geospatial data standards and visualisation. He is proficient in service-based web application development in Java, Adobe Flex/ActionScript, JavaScript, Dojo, and HTML5.

Yassine graduated from the National Civil Aviation School (Toulouse, France) in 2000, with an engineering degree in Computer Science and Air Traffic, as well as an MSc in computer science. In 2005, he graduated from University Aix-Marseille 1, with a PhD in Computer Science (with application to GIS). During his PhD, he worked as a temporary researcher and lecturer at Universities Aix Marseille 1 & 2, and the Institute of Advanced Internet Applications (Marseille, France).